Medical sensor for reducing signal artifacts and technique for using the same

Abstract

A sensor may be adapted to reduce motion artifacts by mitigating the effects of the tissue moving within the sensor. A sensor is provided with an elastomeric sensor body adapted to accommodate patient motion. Further, a sensor is provided in which the sensor cable is arranged to mitigate its pressure on a patient's tissue.

1. A sensor comprising:
 an emitter and a detector coupled to a substantially rigid substrate, the substrate being disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of a bandage-type sensor body configured to extend over a digit, wherein the substantially rigid substrate is adapted to hold the emitter and detector at a substantially fixed optical distance relative to one another when the sensor is applied to a patient, and wherein the bandage-type sensor body comprises sufficient elastic material to accommodate digit movement within the sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. The sensor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor or a sensor for measuring a water fraction. 
     
     
       3. The sensor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the emitter comprises at least one light emitting diode. 
     
     
       4. The sensor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the detector comprises at least one photodetector. 
     
     
       5. The sensor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the emitter and the detector are embedded within the substantially rigid substrate. 
     
     
       6. The sensor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the substantially rigid substrate comprises a metal or a rigid polymeric material. 
     
     
       7. The sensor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the emitter and the detector are operatively coupled to a sensor cable. 
     
     
       8. A pulse oximetry system comprising:
 a pulse oximetry monitor; and 
 a pulse oximetry sensor adapted to be operatively coupled to the monitor, the sensor comprising: 
 an emitter and a detector coupled to a substantially rigid substrate, the substrate being disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of a bandage-type sensor body configured to extend over a digit, wherein the substantially rigid substrate is adapted to hold the emitter and detector at a substantially fixed optical distance relative to one another when the sensor is applied to a patient, and wherein the bandage-type sensor body comprises sufficient elastic material to accommodate digit movement within the sensor. 
 
     
     
       9. The system, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pulse oximetry sensor or a sensor for measuring a water fraction. 
     
     
       10. The system, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the emitter comprises at least one light emitting diode. 
     
     
       11. The system, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the detector comprises at least one photodetector. 
     
     
       12. The system, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the emitter and the detector are embedded within the substantially rigid substrate. 
     
     
       13. The system, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the substantially rigid substrate comprises a metal or a rigid polymeric material. 
     
     
       14. The system, as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the emitter and the detector are operatively coupled to a sensor cable. 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 fixing the optical distance between an emitter and a detector relative to one another, wherein the emitter and the detector are disposed on a substantially rigid substrate, the substrate being disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of a bandage-type sensor body configured to extend over a digit, wherein the bandage-type sensor body comprises sufficient elastic material to accommodate digit movement within the sensor. 
 
     
     
       16. The method, as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein fixing the optical distance between the emitter and the detector comprises embedding the emitter and the detector in the substantially rigid substrate. 
     
     
       17. A method of manufacturing a pulse oximetry sensor, comprising:
 providing a substantially rigid substrate, the substrate being disposed on a tissue-contacting surface of a bandage-type sensor body configured to extend over a digit to which an emitter and a detector are coupled, wherein the substantially rigid substrate is adapted to hold the emitter and the detector at a substantially fixed optical distance, and wherein the bandage-type sensor body comprises sufficient elastic material to accommodate digit movement within the sensor. 
 
     
     
       18. The method, as set forth in  claim 17 , comprising:
 embedding the emitter and the detector within the substantially rigid substrate. 
 
     
     
       19. The method, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the substantially rigid substrate comprises a metal or a rigid polymeric material. 
     
     
       20. The method, as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the emitter and the detector are operatively coupled to a sensor cable.